Printing apparatus.



No. 810,743. PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906.

G. H. GIHON.

PRINTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED Amm, 1905.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED JAN. 23, 1'906.

G. H. GIHON.

PRINTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION PILBD Amm, 1905.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. maw/mmm No. 810,743. PATENT'ED JAN. 23, 1906.

` G. H. GII-ION.

PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAPR. 3, 1905.

7 sums-SHEET s.

No. 810,743. PATPNTED JAN. 23, 1906.

G. H. GIHON.

PRINTING APPARATUS. Y f APPLICATION FILED APB.3, 1905.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4 No. 810,743. PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906. G. H. GII-ION.

PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3. 1905.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

fem@

No. 810,743. PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906.

G. H. GII-ION.

PRINTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JNPR. s, 1905.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

PATBNTED JAN. 23, 1000. G. H. G1H0N.

PRINTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. s, 1905.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

UNJTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEIGE.

GEORGE H. GIHON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PRINTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1906.

Application filed April 3, 1905-' Serial Nm 253,442.

To all '1v/wm it may concern: v

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. GIHoN, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the full, clear, and exact description'of the same.

The present invention relates to certainnew' and useful apparatus for printing from engravedcopper plates-such as are used for printing visiting-cards, Wedding-invitations, and notices generally-.the object thereof being to take the,y lace of the handwork commonly employe to print from such engraved plates, thereby'enabling to be de ne mechanically the work ordinarily performed as hand operation. l

The essential features of the invention comprise means for applying ink to the surface of a held engraved plate, removing the excess or surplus of ink therefrom, wiping, cleaning,

e and polishing the surface of the held engraved plate, and returning the inked plate into'position to be acted on by the impression-roller, with means for automatically feeding the card on which the impression is to be made onto the held inked plate as the' same is moved beneath the impression-roller, and means for delivering the card. The steps involved being, first, the inking of the plate; second, the removal of the surplus ink from the face thereof and the cleaningand polishing the lates surface; third, returning the inked p atelto its original position; fourth,

delivering acard to be printed onto the plateas the same is carried beneath the impressionroller. To carry out these steps, it is' essential that what; shall hereinafter be termed the (plate-carrierf or. carrier-frame be mounte to oscillate within a suitable frame, the various steps .enumerated being performedas the carrier-frame is thrown forward and returned to its original position.

By the hereinafter-described invention the work of printing from an engraved copper plate is materially simplified and the output materially increased over what can be done byhandwork, a decided advantage for the use of the machine being the uniformity with which the cards are printed andthe rapidity with which the work is done.

To comprehend the invention, referenceshould behad to the accompanying sheets ofl drawings, wherein- Figure v1 is' a side view in elevation of the apparatus, the parts being properly ositioned, said view being from the right and of the machine. Fig. 2 is a similar viewjof the machine with the right-hand side plate, l

the main frame thereof removed, the paperroll being also detached. Fig. 3` is a view similar to that -disclosed by Fig. 1 of the drawings looking at the machine from thev left-hand side thereof. Fig. 4 is an end view in elevation of the machine viewedfrom its feed end. Fig. 5 is an end view-in elevation of the machine viewed from .the forward end thereof, said view illustrating the relative position of the ink-rollers, the wiping-rollers, and cleaning device and the web of paper used for wiping and polishing the surface of the held engraved plate, said web of paper being actuated or advanced by the rotation of the frictional wiping-rollers. Fig. 6 is a detail sidey View in elevation of the bed for the' holding of the engraved copperv plate, the

lock-lever for securingthe said plate from which an impression is to be made being illustrated in raised position. Fig. 7 is a vsimilarl view of the said parts, the lock-lever being illustrated as closed for the clamping of the engraved copper plate to its bed. Fig. 8 is a top plan viewlof the means illustrated by Figs. `6 and 7.of the drawings, the copper plate being shown in position and clamped to the bed.

Fig. 9 is a detail side view in elevation of the swinging card-receiver for the rinted card, the means for swinging the sai receiver being shown in position. Fig. 10 is a detail vertical sectional view, in end elevation, of the said swinging card-receiver, the section being on line x Fig. 9 of the drawings. Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the said swinging cardreceiver. Fig. 12 is a detial side view in elevation of the feeder mechanism for the cards. Fig. 13 is a rear end view in elevation of the mechanism disclosed by Fig. 1 2 of the drawings. Fig. 14 is a detail side view of the feed mechanism, the pivoted arm being drawn out on its full stroke for the removal of a card from the bottom of the, stack of cards within the feed-frame. Fig. 15 is a detail top plan view of the mechanism'disclosed by Figs. 12, 13, and 14 of the drawings. Figs. 16, 17, and 18 are detail end views, in side elevation,

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showing the impression-roller in different positions. Fig. 19 isa detail view of the reservoir for the cleaning fluid, disclosingthe felt wiper arranged in advance thereof and the pivoted lever carrying the feed-reservoir and the arm pivoted thereto for depressing the feed-lever on the forward stroke of the platecarrier.

In the drawings the numeral 1 is used to indicate any suitable form.of'asupporting base, from which preferably spring the two vertical side plates 2. These plates are suitably spaced, and between the same works the swinging or oscillatin plate -carrier, which consists of the vertica segmental sidepieces 3 4, united at their upper end by the curved bed-plate 5. The swinging plate-carrier is mounted on or secured to the cross-shaft 6, which passes through the side plates of the main frame, and to one rojecting end thereof is attached the hand e7 The plate-carrier is held in vertical position by means of the counterweight 8. Above the bed-plate of the carrier is located the impression-roller 9, which impression-roller is journaled in slide-blocks 10, said slide-blocks working in the vertical guideways 1 1 of the side plates of the main frame, being held upward by the tension of the springs 12. The impressionroller is regulated as to position by means of the'adjusting-screws 12.

`From the frame-plates of the machine or press forwardly extend the supporting-brackets or bracket-plates 13, whic racket-plates support the ink-supply roller 14, the inkreservoir 15, the inkmg-rollers 16 and 16 for applying ink to the surface of the plate held on the bed of the swinging carrier.

Below the ink-appl g rollers the wipingrollers. 17 and 17 are ocated, there being arranged between these rollers the reservoir 18 for the holding of a cleaning compound substance. Over tlie surface of the wiper-rollers 17 and 17 works the endless web of aper 18 which is fed from a roll 19', held in t e brackets 20, projecting forwardly from the base of the machine.

At the feedend of the machine and immediately above the plate carrier is arranged the feed mechanism for delivering the cards to be printed to the machine, which cards are automatically fed onto the held engraved late as the plate-carrieris moved onits return orward stroke.

From the foregoing brief outline of the machine it will be observed that the following steps are carried out. First, the plate-carrier on its forward stroke has the `surface of the held engraved plate properly inked; second, on the continued movement of its forward stroke the excess or sur )lus ink is removed from the surface of the held plate and the said surface wiped dry and olished, the third step being the return of t e plate-carbeing on the renewed forward stroke of the plate-carrier the delivery of the lcard to be printed onto the held plate as the carrier is moved beneath the impression-roller, the arrangement of the parts being such that the impression-roller is thrown out of operation on the first forward stroke of the plate-carrier and is laced into operation on the return stroke of the said carrier, so that asthe platecarrier makes its second or return forward stroke the card to be printed is fed onto the .held plate and an impression of the held previously-inked plate is made and the printed card automaticallyejected from the bed of the plate-carrier. These various steps and the operation of the mechanism in each step of the machine or press will now be described more in detail, thereby giving a clear understanding as to the working of the means for carrying out successively each step of the machines operation.

As previously stated, the swinging or oscillatory plate-carrier with its counterweight is mounted within the main frame of the machine or press, Fig. 2 of the drawings, and as the same is moved forward the engraved plate held on the bed thereof is inked, wiped, and polished. For the carrying out of the first operation of the machine it is necessary that the engraved copper plate 21, from which an impression is to be made, be beveled or grooved on its ends in order that'the same ,may be held down or onto the bed-plate 5 of the plate-carrier or carrier-frame by means of the ivoted clamp-levers 22, which levers are regu ated as regards the length of the plate from which an impression is to be made by means of the slides 22', which work in beveled ways 23 in the sides of the bed-plate 5 of the carrier-frame, which slides and clamplevers are held in locked position by means of suitable thumb-screws 232, Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. The adjustment of the slides 22 is controlled by sliding backward or forward and held in place by thumb-screw 223. After the engraved plate has been properly clamped and secured to the bed-plate 5 of the osclllatory carrier the said carrier is then read to be swung over in a forward direction y means of the motion imparted to the cross-shafts 6. Previous to moving or swinging forward the carrier-frame it is necessary that the vertically-movable slide-plates 233 and 23 be depressed, the purpose of which is to move the rack portion 24 of the slide-plate 23 from engagement witli'the rack-teeth 24 of the mutilated gear 25, secured on the shaft of the impression-roll 9. By thus depressing the vertical slide-plates 233 and 23 the held plate 2l' is permitted to pass beneath the flattened portion 26'2 of the impression-roller 9 without movement or rotation being imparted to the said roller. The

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slides 26 and 26', secured, respectively, to the vertical side pieces 3 and 4 of the oscillating plate-carrier, are each composed of two ar- `allel sections, which may be so adjuste by being moved inward and outward as to control the inking of the plate proportionately to the size thereof or the matter engraved thereon.

As the movement of the plate carrier is continued beyond the impression-roller 9 the slide 26 first engages with the arm 28 and deprcsses the same, which, acting against a stud projecting from the pivoted lever 28', throws over the upper ink roller 16 .and places the same onto the held engraved plate 21, so as to give an initial inking to the surface of the said held plate, the lower ink-'ap-` plying roller-being actuated by the said slide 26, bearing against the hinged arm 29 which in turn bears onto a stud 29', projecting from the pivoted lever 30, which throws over the said lower ink-roller 16 and causes the same to bear onto the surface of the said held plate and supply thereto the requisite quantity y.of ink. It will be understood that the ink-appl ing rollers are inked from the main ink-A ro ler 14, which in turn receives its inking from the ink-reservoir 15, held thereabove. As the slide 26'is carried beyond the means for actuating the inkapplying vrollers the said rollers are automatically returned to' their normal position onto the main ink-roller 14 by the tension ofthe coiled springs 31,

. which act to force thelevers 28' and 30 outwardly. v y* It is obvious that all ink applied tothe sur-A face of the held engraved plate must'be removed therefrom, exceptin such yportion of the ink as fills thecuts in te surface of the said plate. This removal of the ink is accomplished by the endless web 18. of absorbent paper, which web is forced against and `over the surface of the engraved lat'e`21 by means of the rubber wiping ro lers 17 and y17'. These rollers are actuated by the slide 26' vacting first against the hinged arm 32, which as depressed engages a stud projecting from the pivoted lever 32', which lever as depressed ythrows inward the upper wiping? lroller-,s 17 and forces the web ofpaper against the surface of the held plate, which paper gives'an initial wiping to the surface of the engraved plate1 as moved in contactA therewith by the continued forward,v strokeof the carrier` frame. Immediately below the upper wi ing-roll is located the reservoiry 18 for the ho ding of any suitable cleaning compound, which reservoir supplies moisture to the felt wiper 33. This reservoir is mounted on a pivoted arm 33', which arm is thrown over so as to place the felt/wiper 33 against the surface of the held plate, the movement of which wiper is accomplished by the slide 26on left side engaging the arm 34. This arm as depressed bears against, a stud 'projecting from the shafts carrying the wi ing-rollers.

the said pivoted arm 33' and by depressing the same forces over the upper end thereof and causes the felt wiper 33 to bear against the surface of the held plate and moisten the same. The purpose of thus moistening the plate is that the properties of the cleaning compound thus applied to the held plate may better remove or cut such ink as adheres to the surface of the said plate after being car.

ried past thefirst wiper-roller 17. The movement of the plate-carrier being continued, the said slide 26 bears onto the hinged arm 34', which as depressed bears against or onto the stud 3 5, projecting from the-pivoted lever 35', which lever as thus depressed depresses the lower wiper roller 17', which 'in turn forces a new surface of the paper web onto the surface of the held engraved plate, which by frictional contact therewith thoroughly wipes and polishes the surface of the said plate. The surface of the rolls 17 and 17' is composed of rubber, the frictional quality of which is sufficient when the rolls are rotated to advance the web of -paper proportionately to the rotation of the 'said rolls. The plate is -now in condition to beprinted from 5 but before doing so the'said plate-carrier must be restored to its original position, it being returned bya reverse movement being 1m-v partedto the shaft, 6. It is essential that the l main ink-applying or fountain roll 14-be kept revolving in one direction only, which is accomplished by means of the gear 36, loose on with ear-pinion 36', mounted on the lower end o the longitudinal shaft 37, which shaft .at itsV upper or outer end carries a pinion 37'..

This pinion meshes with the gear 38,V which is' secured to the end of the shaft `carryin the main ink or fountain roll 14. vThe rol er is thus caused to rotate on the forward stroke of the plate-carrier by means of pawls 38 engaging with the ratchets 39, secured to the ycross-shaft 6, Fig. 1 ofthe drawings.

'It will be understood that the levers which actuate the roller-wipers 17 and 17' are adjustable by means o suitable thumb-screws 39 ,'which work in the frame of the said wipers for the (pur ose of adjusting the pressure of the sai ro lers onto the surface of the engraved plate held by the plate-carrier, and it will be understood that` it is the gripping qualities of the rubber surface of the said wiping-rollers which causes to be moved or advanced forwardly the web of paper. These roller-wipers have rotary motion imparted thereto by means of the'segment-rack 40, which meshes with a small cog-pinion 41, mounted on a shaft 42, to which is secured a cog-gear 42'. This gear 42' meshes with the pinions 43 and 43', mounted, respectively, on The pinions 43 and 43' are held oeked to the shaft of the respective wiping-rollers by means of the main shaft 6 of the machine, engaging IOO the pawls 44, which engage with the ratchet.

by a dog on the main shaft engaging-pin on l segment-rack. This segment-rack is returned or restored to position by the tension of the spring 45, which connects the tail extension t iereof to the bed of the machine, while the vplate-carrier is returnedto its position by operator.. It will also be understood that the said vertical slide-platesare depressed prior to the forward movement of the plate-car-` rier by means of the levers 46 46, which are 'pivoted to the inner surface of the respective side plates of the machine. l These levers at their inner ends arey connected-by a cross-rody 47, which extends throu h a slot 47, cut in each of the depressible s ide-plates. One of the pivoted levers is provided with a continuation 48, which forms a handle. This handle when depressed throws downward the inner ends of the pivoted levers, which in turn, bearing onto the vertical slide-plates, move the same downward. These vertical slideplates, it will be understood, are arranged within the carrier-frame, the lower end of each lever slide-plate being bifurcated, so as to straddle the rotatable shaft 6 of the machine.

v The moment the late-carrier has been restored to its normal) position, with the held engraved' plate wiped and polished, the operation of printing from the inked plate may be proceeded with. For this purpose the depre'ssible vertical slide-plates 233 and 23 are raised by lifting the handle 48, which places the rack portion of the slide-plate 23 in mesh with the teeth of the mutilated gear 25Y of the impression-roll. As the plate-carrier is then swung forward the projecting stud 49 on the left side of the carrier-frame engages with a dog 49', Figs. 16, 17, and 18 of the drawings, said dog in turn engaging with a pin 50 on the impression-roller shaft and being depressed for the purpose of allowing the impressionroller to rotate when brought into mesh with rack lportion of the vertical slide-plate 23". Simu taneousl with this movement of the impression-roller thevertical slide-plate 233 on the right side of the press engages with the outer section 50 of the slide 51. This slide 51 .is regulated by the adjusting-screw 52, which accommodates the slide to cards of varying size. The outer ends 52 of the slidesection 50 enga es the edge of the lowermost card of the stac placed in the feeder-frame 52 and forces the same forward beneaththe.

gate 522, said gate being for the purpose of permitting only one card atta time to pass to the impression-roller. The Slide-section 50 is pivoted to the slide 51 at one end, so that the same may be swung or raised upward to release the depressible slide-plate when card is in bight of the impression-roller, The card is carried forward with the movement of the carrier-frame by the sliding card-feeder 52', which isactuated by the movement of the slide 51. l When the card is in the bight of the impression-roller, the vertical slide-plate 233 is released from engagement with the pivoted Section 50, and the slide 51 is returned to its normal position by the tension of the springs 53. As the cards pass from under the impression-roller the same are delivered onto the swinging card-receiver 54, which receiver is held tothe arms 54. These arms are secured to the rock-shaft 55 on the right-hand side of the press, said shaft being provided with a cog-pinion 55 whichengages with the rack 56 of the segment-plate 56, ivoted to the main frame of the machine. T e purpose of this rack is to operate the pinion 5.5 to partly rotatethe-shaft 55 in order to swing the receiver54 to deliver the engraved card 57 to the tilting platform 572, The pivoted segment-plate 56 is actuated by means of a pin 58, projecting from theright side of the {gate-carrier, engaging an arm 58 depending After thev om the said segmentlate 57. card has been deposite on the platform 572 the said swinging receiver 54 is returned to its proper position by means of the tension of the spiral spring 59, which surrounds the shaft 55.

The tilting platform 572 is secured to the bracket 573, pivoted to an arm 582 forwardly rojecting from one side of the mainframe.

he said bracket 573 is thrown over toward the feed end of the machine by means of the pivoted lever-arm 582, which is drawn inward by a dog 592 on the main shaft engaging the shoulder 593 of the lever-arm 582. `As thus thrown over the platform 572 is tilted to deposit the printed card onto the holder 61';

The moment the dog 592 has been carried past the shoulder 593 the tiltin platform 572 is returned to normal position y the weight 62, secured to the outer portion of the pivoted bracket 573.

F or the purpose of enabling the engraved plate 21 to be removed fromv the plate-carrier or a plate to be printed from to be readily attached thereto 1t is preferable that the cardfeeder be arranged to swing clear of or to one side of the press, so as to be out of the way, thereby permitting free access to the platecarrier and the clamping means for the engraved plate. For this urpose the frame 52 of the card-feeder 'mec anlsm is attached to one side of the press-frame by any suitable hinge 60. Being thus connected, the

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card-feed er may be swung laterally and clear of the plate-carrier.

Having thus-described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be protected by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a press for the described purpose, the combination with the frame thereof, of a platecarrier mounted to rock or oscillate within the same, of means carried thereby for clamping an engraved plate to the saidA carrier, an impression-roller held within the 'frame above the plate-carrier, of inking means arranged at the forward end of the press, of wiping-rollers and cleaning device located below the inkingxmeans; of devices for actuating the inking means on the forward stroke of the -platecarrier to ink the surface of the plate carried thereby and for `operating the wiping-rollers and cleaning device to remove the surplus ink therefrom and polish the surface of the plate, of means for returning the plate-carrier to its normal position after the polishing of the surface of the inked plate, a card-feeder for supplying cards to be printed, means carriedy y the plate-carrier for actuating the cardfeeder and the impression-roller on the return forward stroke thereof, and devices for operating said means to coact yrespectively Y with the card-feed mechanism and the imof the oscillatory plate-carrier, and means` roller.

pression-roller. r

2. In a press for the described purpose, the combination with the main frame thereof, of an oscillatory plate-carrier mounted to swing therein, of'clamping means carried thereby for holding an engraved plate thereto, `of devices for inking, wiping and polishingthe surface of the held plate on the forward stroke carried by the said carrier for actuating the mking, wiping and polishing ldevices on the forward movement of the said plate-carrier.

3. In a press for the described purpose, the combination with the mainframe, of an impression-roller mounted therein, a rack-gear secured to the impression-roller, of any oscillatory plate-carrier working within the main frame, means carried thereby for the clamping of an engraved plate thereto, a vertically-movable rack-plate carried by the plate-carrier, and devices for moving the same in and out of mesh with the gear of the impression- 4. In a press for the described purpose, the combination with the main frame of an oscillat'ory plate'carrier arranged to swing within the said frame, an impression-roller mounted in the main frame above the plate-carrier, of

'card-feeding. mechanism, a vertically-movable slide-plate carried by the'plate-carrier for actuating the card-feeding mechanism,

and devices for raising and lowering said slide-v` plate to place the same into and out of engagement -with the said card-feeding mechanism.

5. In a press for the described purpose, the

combination with the main frame thereof, of the oscillatory plate-carrier, of means for clamping an engraved plate thereto, of the ink-supplying rolls for inking the surface of the held plate, devices carried by the platecarrier for actuating said rolls to ink the surface of the held late on the forward stroke of the plate-carrier, and means for adjusting the pressure of said inking-rolls.

6. The combination with vthe oscillatory plate-carrier, of means for clamping an engraved plate thereto, of inking-rolls for applying ink to the surface of the held plate on the forward stroke of the plate-carrier, and an adjustable slide carried by the late-carrier for actuating the said ink-app yingrolls on the forward stroke of the plate-carrier.

7. In a press for the described pur ose, the combination with the oscillatory p ate-carrier, ofthe wiping-rolls for removing the sur-` plus ink applied to the surface of an en raved plate held to the plate-carrier and poIishing the surface of said plate, of devices carried by the plate-carrier for forcing the wiping-rolls toward the -held plate on the forward stroke of the plate-carrier, av web of paper working over the wiping-rolls and advanced by thefrictional engagement of the said rolls therewith, and means for imparting rotation to tlie inking-rolls.

8. 'In a press for the described purpose, the

y combination with an 'oscillatory plate-carrier, of means for clamping an engraved plate thereto, a web of paper for removing' the sur lus ink applied to the surface of the vheld p ate, ofdevlcesfor forcing the paper onto the surface of the inked plate during the forward stroke of the carrier-plate, and means for advancing the web of paper over the surface of the plate. j

9. In'a press for the described purpose, the combination with an oscillatory plate-carrier, of means for clamping an engravedI plate there.- to, a web of paper for removing. the sur lus ink applied to the surface of the held ate and polishing the surface thereof, of rolls for forcing the web of paper against the surface for advancing the web by frictional contact,

rand means for moistening the surface of the held plate with a suitable cleaning compound. l

10. In a press for the described pur ose, the combination with an oscillatory p atecarrier, of the wiping-rolls, a web of paper, working over the face thereof, of devices for throwing the rolls toward the surface of the inked plate to place the paper thereon during the movement of the carrier-plate, of mech` anism for actuating the rolls to impart travel to the web of paper.

11. In a press for the described purpose, ,the combination with the main frame, of the im ression-roller mounted therein, of an oscil atory plate-carrier working Within the IOO y,of the plate, mechanism for rotating the rolls 1 IIS4 main frame, card-feed mechanism for deliv- In testimony whereof I have hereunto af'- ering cards to be rinted, devices carried by fixed my signature in the presence of Wit- 1o the late-carrier or .actuating the card-feed nesses. mee mism and imparting rotation to the imy 5 pression-roller, a swinging receiver for the printed cards, and means for operating said Witnesses:` swinging receiver to deliver the printed cards N. A. ACKER, onto .e suitable holder.v D. B. RICHARDS GEORGE H. GIHON. 

